A new Mediterranean restaurant taking inspiration from both its European and North African shores launches next week in Marylebone. Bellazul opens on Thursday 1 February in Blandford Street on the former site of Italian restaurant Il Baretto, with ex-Cecconi’s and 5 Hertford Street head chef Simone Serafini directing the kitchen. Dishes range from lobster spaghetti […]
A self-proclaimed ‘New York Italian’ restaurant, The Dover, has opened with little fanfare in Mayfair from Martin Kuczmarski, former chief operating officer at Soho House. It occupies the former site of the short-lived Moncks of Mayfair in Dover Street. Moncks closed during the pandemic in 2020 and never reopened. The Dover’s menu features a range […]
The London restaurant world this week mourned the passing of Russell Norman, creator of Polpo, Spuntino and Trattoria Brutto, who has died suddenly at the age of 57. Born and brought up in London’s northwestern outskirts, Russell was a host of legendary charm host who cut his teeth in the trade as a barman-turned-restaurant manager […]
A new Italian neighbourhood restaurant has opened on the former site of hip natural wine bar Peg, in Hackney’s Morning Lane. Dalla has been created by Naples-born brothers Gennaro and Gianmarco (ex-Claridge’s) Leone, along with Mitchell Damota, former head chef at P Franco. Gennaro, who runs the design gallery Spazio Leone in Lower Clapton, has […]
American-Italian restaurant Lavo is to launch its first European branch in Marylebone this month – the latest in a rash of upscale Italian-inspired openings from international operators in London this autumn. Lavo was founded in New York in 20 years ago by Noah Tepperberg of the Tao Group and took off as a brand following the […]
Fast-growing Manchester pasta specialist Sud has opened its first branch in the city centre, on the site of the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre. Sud joins the highly rated Basque outfit Baratxui, formerly of Ramsbottom, and modern Scandi small plates specialist Osma at Exhibition, a new food and drink destination in the city’s former natural history […]
Hong Kong-based restaurateur David Yeo is adding two Italian venues to his growing Aqua London portfolio this year – the informal Luci, which opened in Covent Garden last month, followed by Azzurra, a more upscale seafood specialist in Chelsea. Aqua already has six restaurants in London, covering cuisines from East Asia to Spain – Hutong and […]
Cage fighter ‘Meatball Molly’ McCann is to open an Italian-inspired kitchen and deli in her native Liverpool next month. Polpetta – ‘meatball’ in Italian – will be in the Baltic Market street-food centre and serve classic Italian comfort food. Molly has made her name as one of Britain’s top women mixed martial artists, competing in the […]
Lina Stores, the veteran Soho deli transformed into a contemporary pasta restaurant group, is to open its long-promised branch on the edge of Clapham Common next month. The new venue with Lina’s distinctive green and white-striped awning has taken over a prime corner site on The Pavement formerly occupied by St Clair, an ambitious ‘fish […]
Popular Nottingham Italian restaurant Sexy Mamma Love Spaghetti is set to open a second branch south of the city centre, close to Trent Bridge cricket ground. The business has taken over the prominent corner site occupied for 30 years by the Connaught House gift shop in Tudor Square, in the affluent suburb of West Bridgford. […]
